Midweek mania: Bulls baseball beats UCF, 9-3

Pulled an odd doubleheader tonight, catching all three innings of my son Riley's T-ball game (a 23-22 loss for the Rays) and then the final four innings of USF's 9-3 win against Central Florida at Red McEwen Field.

Solid start for Teddy Kaufman, who pitched into the ninth for the win, giving up nine hits but staying in control, backed by seven runs in the first four innings. Trey Manz was a triple short of the cycle, and the Bulls got two hits each from Jonathan Koscso, Stephen Hunt and Junior Carlin.

And if you're not impressed that Ryan Lockwood has reached base in 86 consecutive games -- took until the seventh inning Wednesday to keep the streak going -- how about UCF's Shane Brown, who reached base in 18 consecutive plate appearances last week to match an NCAA record.

Eight of those came in a 29-9 win against UAB on Friday -- there's some frightening pitching in Conference USA these days. Actual scores on UCF's schedule: A 26-10 loss to Southern Miss, immediately followed by a 19-1 loss; a 26-1 loss to East Carolina, followed by 13-3 and 10-3 losses; a 20-5 loss to Tulane and the 29-9 game, which was followed by a 12-8 loss and a 12-6 win.

USF improves to 28-16 and wins the season series with UCF by taking three of four games -- still a disappointing 13-13 in nonconference action. Coach Lelo Prado was frustrated his team took a 9-5 loss to UCF in Orlando, but his team is 15-3 in Big East play heading into its final home series this weekend against Cincinnati. Lots more baseball in the next day or two ...

-- I went to Armwood's signing day ceremony in February to see defensive end Ryne Giddins, who signed with the Bulls. USF could have just as easily gotten defensive back Angelo Hadley, who had an offer from USF but chose North Carolina. I'm guessing he's not going to make it to campus, as he was arrested Wednesday at Armwood on three felony counts -- grand theft, grand theft of a firearm and armed burglary -- this just three weeks after he was arrested on two counts of lewd and lascivious battery.

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